A regional publisher has launched a new standalone entertainment website for the region it covers.

The Midland News Association, which publishes the Express & Star and Shropshire Star, has created Native Monster to cover entertainment, lifestyle and events across the West Midlands, Shropshire and Staffordshire.

The site aims to have comprehensive listings for events across the region along with interviews, features and reviews, which will be written by journalists from the two regional dailies, with contributions from bloggers and guest writers.

Native Monster was developed by MNA digital development manager Mark Cadman in partnership with web design agency B3 Studios, while the branding was created by Wyatt International, the MNA’s communications partner agency.

In a story about the launch of the site, managing editor Lucy Dalton said: “It is a one-stop-shop entertainment and lifestyle website for our circulation region.

“It offers extensive information on local events as well as delivering features, reviews and opinions on anything covering lifestyle and entertainment.

“The site aims to give inspiration to people who are lost for things to do in their leisure time throughout our region. Native Monster will build upon the audience of the flagship daily titles but will be marketed as a separate offering to the existing expressandstar.com platform.”

Phil Inman, managing director of the Midland News Association, added: “Native Monster will bring a new online audience to the growing MNA portfolio.”

The new site will cover music, arts, culture, food and drink, events, cinema and local attractions, while it will also feature blogs, videos and photo galleries.